Artell: "We Will Practice Set Play Marking"

27 February 2017

Boss stresses the importance of defending our box properly from set pieces.

David Artell has told the club’s official web-site that his players will be working extensively on defending from set plays after we gave away ‘two preventable goals’ against Stevenage on Saturday. The Alex boss was left frustrated by the manner in which we conceded the decisive goals and although we got one back via a superbly taken penalty from James Jones, we couldn’t find an equaliser in that dominant second period.

Artell told the club’s official web-site: “I was disappointed with the two goals we conceded. They came from set pieces again and that is four out of the last six or seven goals and that is too high a ratio. One is bad enough. Set plays are crucial at any level and that is especially the case in League Two.

“When we defend them with the right mind-set like we did against Wycombe then we have proved we can do it. They have to embrace the challenge and make sure we defend corners, free-kicks and long throw-ins correctly.

“We didn’t defend Stevenage’s goals well enough. The first one came from a long throw and the second one from a corner was ridiculous.

Artell added: “So, we will be out there practicing them. That is the only way we will improve and get better. We will be out there until I am confident that they have cracked it and they know where they should be and how they should defend. They are a critical part of any game.”